LAHORE: Despite announcement by the government and private associations to keep the schools and colleges open, various primary, secondary and higher secondary educational institutions in the private sector in parts of the city, particularly southern Lahore, may remain closed due to the march by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday (today).

Thin attendance of students is expected at schools on Friday (today) as school van drivers/owners have told the parents that they wouldn’t pick and drop their kids, fearing the possible road blockade or damage to their vehicles.

“We will not open our school’s main campus (boys) situated on Khyaban-i-Jinnah, Raiwind Road, keeping in view the PTI march on Friday,” Mr Murad Yakut, Pak Turk Schools’ director told Dawn on Thursday.

“All other branches of the school in Lahore will remain open on Friday,” Mr Yakut added.

Talking to Dawn, Sohail, a resident of Johar Town, said the driver picking and drop his son daily for a private school in DPS Model Town refused to come on Friday, stating “He may be stuck in the possible traffic congestion due to rally or his van might be damaged”.

On the other hand, the Punjab Higher and Primary Education departments said all public and private colleges, universities and schools, etc would remain open despite the PTI’s rally.

Meanwhile, PU senior officials in a meeting reviewed the security arrangements. The meeting decided that PU would remain open on Friday (today) and university buses would run as per routine.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2016